used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
brevitynounUS /ˈbrevəti/
the use of brief expressions
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
business-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
censoriousadjective
harshly critical or expressing censure
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
departverbUS /dɪˈpɑːrt/
move away from a place into another direction
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
directnessnounUS /dərˈektnəs/
trueness of course toward a goal
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
informaladjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrməl/
not formal
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
inviteverbUS /ˌɪnˈvaɪt/
increase the likelihood of
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
McBain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
other-self
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
reasoningnounUS /ˈriːzənɪŋ/
thinking that is coherent and logical
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
except for; apart from
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
express in words
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
single-mindedadjective
determined
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading At least so she explained it, the evening afterwards, to her censorious other-self.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
uniqueadjectiveUS /juːˈniːk/
radically distinctive and without equal
From this reading But there was a business-like brevity about him, a single-minded directness, that struck her as really unique.
precisely as stated
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading Quite apart from the fact that it might save McBain, she wanted him to stay there and talk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading MISS FORTUNE It was very informal, to say the least, for Mary Fortune to invite him to stay.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
in the company of; together with
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading To be sure, she knew him--he was the man with the gun, the man of whom McBain was afraid--but that was all the more reason, to a reasoning woman, why she should keep silent and let him depart.
